It is that time of year again.  When the Boyzenberries are given their annual haircut.

First up was Lambie.  He had a huge fleece.

Underneath he has soft pink skin with black splodges.

Then it was ‘Ster’s turn.

His fleece was huge and very good quality – apparently Grade 1, according to Chris, the professional sheep shearer.

Last up, was ‘Bert.

Chris graded his fleece as a 2, so pretty good.

He also clipped ‘Ster’s horns as they were about to grew into his skull – what a terrible design but now all sorted.

Each sheeple had their feet, teeth and horns examined and sorted, where necessary, and everyone was given a clean bill of health, which is always a relief because who knows what is going on under all that wool.

The Boyzens were rather odd afterwards.  They had to get used to the sudden loss of their wool coats as well as seeing each other looking completely different.

BeAnne was on hand offering her support.

Afterwards, ‘Bert took himself off.  He was very upset.

Lambie wanted to be with me, eating biscuits and enjoying the freedom of no fleece.

‘Ster just wanted to scratch or be scratched.  Everyone was very itchy and I asked Chris whether I should use some Spot-On insecticide for sheep but he said their fleeces were clean and there was no evidence of ticks or lice.

‘Bert took to the muck heap for comfort and refused to talk much.

Lambie came and sat beside me.  He wanted lots of hugs and to know that we didn’t think he was ugly or that anything had changed.

‘Ster was very needy and just wanted to eat as many biscuits as he could but I notice that, of the the three, he is perhaps the fattest!

Shearing really changes everyone.

Lambie’ fleece score was 4.  Carpet quality. Nuff said!

 

We brought Silver, Storm, Waffle and Tiddles home, aka, the Minions.

(I may have taken a few photos!)

Taktur started off by chasing them – he could smell girls.  The Minions have been living with Lyra and Delia these past few months.

And then everyone else piled in to say hello.

Many introductions and re-introductions.

The biggest shock today was for Taktur.

The Minions were not scared of him.

They are all grown up now and told him so.  He gave up the chasing fairly quickly when he realised no one was backing down.

The little boys quickly made friends.

Efstur is also very happy.

Now there are lots of little Minions to play with.  Heaven for an Icelandic colt yearling.

  

Newt is also very smiley.  He has his relations.

Nuncle Storm is gonna get it!

Efstur’s new BFF is Waffle

Three little good boys.

Then Tiddles takes a bite.

Albie retaliates.

All’s fair.

I could watch my herd of boys all day and, after a rather gallopy start, Taktur has calmed down and everyone is the best of friends.  I love it when my little boys are home.

Daisy and I have been thinking long and hard over this – our little filly’s name.  It has to be right and to fit Her LIttleness.

So, introducing Lilja from Thordale.

Lilja means Lily in Icelandic.

Lilja is a very special little filly.

She has heaps of charm as well as beautiful looks.

She is also very curious and loving.

Hetja thoroughly approves of Lilja meeting Daisy.

Lilja spent a long time being tickled and reciprocating.

I think the name Lilja suits her – you pronounce it Lil-ya.

So there we are, I think we have the right names – Lilja and Dreki.

The lily and the dragon.

A certain little Icelandic filly foal is desperate to make friends with another little Icelandic colt foal.

Mother Hetja has other ideas.

Little Himself, Dreki the Dragon, is happily practising his cantering and turns but he, too, would like a friend to run about with.

Brá, Dreki’s mother, on the other hoof, is more than happy to let her little boy go and investigate the world.  She is not the clingy mother type.

Little Herself is not put off by her mother’s attitudes.  She has her own plan.

So, while Hetja was not noticing, she crept up to Brá and Dreki to say hello.

And then Hetja arrived too with her opinions on this…..

…. and put a stop to that.

Later in the day, the little foals had another go at meeting.

There is a little dance that they have to go through first.  It is lovely to watch.

I think it won’t be long before they are cantering around together.

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On another good note, I took Haakon into the indoor school this afternoon. It is much cooler today and he was fine, back to factory settings.  We tölted happily on both reins (directions) so I think it must have been a combination of heat, old age and being jumped on by the little ones.

I accompanied Daisy and Taktur out for a hack.  They went off training while Haakon and I pottered along at the back.

He was not himself at all.  Very slow and tail-swishy when asked for anything else.  Usually Haakon keeps up with the best of ’em, but today, he decided he didn’t want to.

Odd things I noticed:

Efstur (with the joys of Spring) was trying to mount Haakon while I led him out of his field, which greatly pissed him off as he couldn’t retaliate as he had a head-collar on.

It was hot, for Shetland, and Haakon still has some winter coat on – he had a sweaty chest.

Haakon has been working hard all week.

So, I am not sure what to think.

Haakon didn’t even canter off with me on the way home. He always does that  – no manners and I forgive him.  So, to not do it means something is going on.

After the ride, instead of putting Haakon back in with the guys, we took Iacs out and let the old men have a break from the young bucks.  Haakon is the leader of the herd.

So the “young bucks” waited by the gate for their leader to return.

It is hot.  The sheeples are all suffering hugely too.

(Even I am in a t-shirt!)

So I am not sure what to think. As his rider, trainer and owner of 20 years (Haakon is 23), he felt like he wanted to do a big poo and then everything would be alright.  I gave him a probiotic and will reassess tomorrow.

I worry. He is getting old.  He has to last forever.  Not like Haakon not to bugger off home with me.  Please God don’t let there be something wrong.

He is eating fine, however.